[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6676795,"mediaKeyId","2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc","parentId",2363948,"title","Education department seeks $40 million for excess special‑education costs; committee questions program consolidations and ARPA continuity","audioSeconds",437,"startMs",10965000,"endMs",11402000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc&start=10965&end=11402","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc/thumbnail_10965000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6676795/Connecticut/Education-department-seeks-40-million-for-excess-specialeducation-costs-committee-questions-program-consolidations-and-ARPA-continuity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676795-d5b65fe9461087d008c72be30deaa59c/orig.mp4?Expires=1777124502&Signature=c0DTGevezm00bZ3RLRSedyQ94761quW1Prs-EYF4wTHOfABvT5yRStNnRlw2Nf-CUk-6KDudJSnkgJ~dyCF7Hz~uRAU2EHQb33SoK6JiflxWgG8jfWEU5JydNuqlPbmDTVxGhrUh4232sUMcwzmcG1d2h4FJ2hqNejj8v~3i0h~2eYVjqQRfxUjhgDUc2x1iAHZz5Cd69mBjVcw8RaH4RBHFg1wfmeCqa6CFB2SWFme0QT58nBqWJhOMEb5PFoL2pAIlkEI3UzxG4CPJ0qigPBoVmF5PFy1AVth50uBTHfggv2p6ASqL8SaHHvxMQC9MmUzz~07J5qFrwV7S7VHcvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Connecticut House Of Representative Appropriations Committee","date","2025-02-20T20:02:43.997Z","article","Connecticut State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell‑Tucker told the Appropriations subcommittee the governor’s proposed budget includes a $40 million increase in the state’s excess cost special‑education grant and multiple investments aimed at attendance, tutoring and pandemic recovery.

Russell‑Tucker said the department is thankful that the governor’s proposal also would eliminate family costs for reduced‑price lunch and provide universal free breakfast beginning in fiscal year 2026–27.

On special education, Brian Klumkiewicz, director of the Bureau of Special Education, explained the state’s reimbursement design: local districts receive formula‑based IDEA funding from the federal government and the state’s excess‑cost program reimburses districts once a student’s per‑pupil costs exceed 4.5 times the district per‑pupil amount. Klumkiewicz said current funding levels cover roughly 63 cents on the dollar for high‑cost students and that a $40 million additional state appropriation would improve but not fully eliminate gaps; committee members asked the department to model the effect of a $40 million addition and show where it would land districts by tier.

Klumkiewicz also described IDEA funding as a formula allocation to districts; the department confirmed it retains a modest administrative set‑aside and passes the remainder through to districts.

Committee members questioned a consolidation in the governor’s request that folds family resource centers, after‑school programs, parent trust and several school‑engagement grants into a single competitive grant pool. The department said the change is meant to simplify administration and make blended applications possible, but legislators said they worry the move could put specialized local programs at risk and asked for program‑level rollups to show what would change. The net reduction in funding from the reorganization as presented was about $1.9 million compared with current levels.

Legislators also probed ARPA‑funded programs the department has been operating — including the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) and several mental‑health investments — and noted many ARPA supports run through December 2026. Committee members asked the department to clarify which ARPA dollars remain and how 2027 state funding would maintain successful pilots.

On choice and magnet programs, the department clarified that a statutory cap that has limited tuition payments to sending districts would remain at about 58% through 2027; legislation in the governor’s proposal would allow future adjustments linked to CPI after that date, which lawmakers said could shift costs back to sending districts unless additional ECS or state support is provided.

Commissioner Russell‑Tucker said the department would return with district‑level analyses, IDEA and ECS allocations, ARPA carry‑forward schedules and program‑by‑program lists demonstrating the impacts of any consolidations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Approps Elementary & Secondary Ed Agency Budget Presentations","oneSentenceSummary","The State Department of Education told the Appropriations subcommittee the governor’s budget proposes a $40 million increase for excess‑cost special‑education reimbursement while consolidating several family and youth engagement grants into a single competitive fund — a change that raised questions from lawmakers.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Connecticut","taxId",15021,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676812,"Teachers’ retirement board cites $8.1 million health‑insurance shortfall as state proposes cutting reimbursement",101,176000,277000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc&start=176&end=277","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc/thumbnail_176000.jpg","/articles/6676812/Connecticut/Teachers-retirement-board-cites-81-million-healthinsurance-shortfall-as-state-proposes-cutting-reimbursement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676812-8f724da36f3e9706278fecddbae20dc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1777124502&Signature=ahKmOQD9nAnPuPBLnQlgKwbE67ZCNwkpb6OQfuPVkOmG-x56AFtCWoZxObVQB~xTCBSkFdkuW0bR6VYpGhZbeOhIf370DTL05kptyH2tHwTk9hV13pPFN9~qEqb8i8UPLH6FGn~jkGutyy5jRPXjs6idK9SlyKEL4ZKMHd7gS8ggfcI1uYG2bv7EyTaMnraiFmdWP9AxycETRE2-ScmA001oESieuzLiLFqO81ha~ByzYWugoJqVXHFKwCE26t56dz0qrr5oOYEpsq73Z6vHvHvqbBfhTUdBNOnApx9OQqtzoLUc9x5S3jHpIgfpJ5kOG-Bkne6PjMZuNrRSSc7OlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Teachers’ Retirement Board told the Appropriations Committee’s elementary and secondary education subcommittee that a deficit tied to higher insurance rates totals about $8.1 million for the current year.

The board’s fiscal manager, Bob Rabier, said the deficit “relates to the increase in the insurance premiums for the year that wasn’t budgeted due to the Medicare stuff,” and he attributed the spike to changes tied to Medicare and related federal actions.

The Office of Policy and Management has proposed temporarily reducing the state reimbursement for retiree premiums from one‑third to one‑quarter for two fiscal years. Senator Cathy Austin pressed board staff for written figures showing how that change would affect retirees and districts; board representatives said they have not yet received the 2026–27 premium rates that would make the impact exact.

Helen, a representative of the Teachers’ Retirement Board, told the committee the fund intends to absorb the difference the governor’s office has proposed for 2026–27. “The fund is gonna absorb that differential for budget 26‑27. That is what is being proposed by OPM,” she said, while also noting uncertainty because rates for 2026–27 were not yet available.

Board staff estimated that, if current conditions hold, the next year’s shortfall could reach about $12 million to $13 million for 2026–27; they said that is an estimate and depends on final carrier and Medicare rates.

Several lawmakers said they were uncomfortable accepting a change that might shift costs onto individual retirees or districts without explicit, written confirmation that the pension fund will cover the difference. Senator Austin asked the board to provide written calculations showing the dollar impact and to have agency legal staff review eligibility for outside organizations that want TRB coverage.

The board also described a multi‑year statutory update it is preparing for the committee; representatives said statutory refinements remain under discussion but did not present concrete language during the hearing.

Committee members directed staff to return the detailed rate scenarios and supporting calculations at the working session so legislators could assess financial impacts before any change affecting retiree payments or the board’s budget went into effect.","The Teachers’ Retirement Board told the Appropriations subcommittee it faces an $8.1 million deficiency tied to rising insurance premiums and said it would absorb a short‑term state reimbursement reduction proposed by OPM for 2026–27.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676799,"Technical high schools report $13 million deficiency driven in part by rising special‑education costs and staffing pressures",1254,4056000,5310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc&start=4056&end=5310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc/thumbnail_4056000.jpg","/articles/6676799/Connecticut/Technical-high-schools-report-13-million-deficiency-driven-in-part-by-rising-specialeducation-costs-and-staffing-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676799-10c8ca8166eb18094c93c796e1840672/orig.mp4?Expires=1777124502&Signature=lPT8CSErNvf76GUBtCiagPzM7t91l3oU1ApLUgygJVyFKYyCDpHTl8leEKkQLGXK0mWGZX5TxMaMg3U2PVJCCi6akMTID2upUBMxgpxMmwlRT2DKRHmZnfPmLFTHgjwx88JAdH6lnLPMI1XfdlouGq3r8hzR7-SSjf-lqy1MfpYJngBKowcwX8U5z04NY-iOgzmreNoMc0d2WnNzMn9ivLRpcz3fPOBzIPdA7gJB7d1IrpgfvOsO~KoqC6C51nfoNM85gxJ5GhiMOvI0~ALlsBW2E3XnUsmxtr2A302NYj4-94tnV024LsCj-bjYg9AnywjJpTZBdj7P94JUim4M2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim CTECS executive director Alice Pritchard told the Appropriations subcommittee the state technical high school system has more than 11,000 high‑school students across 17 campuses and more than 3,000 adult students in apprenticeships and training programs, and that the agency is seeking supplemental funds to cover a roughly $13 million deficiency.

Pritchard and school leaders said most of the shortfall stems from unbudgeted special‑education costs, fixed‑cost increases and the end of ARPA support. Pritchard estimated a roughly $6 million portion of the deficiency is related to special‑education services that were not anticipated in the current budget.

The system’s special‑education population has risen markedly: officials said the number of students with individualized education programs was about 1,000 in 2017 and was approximately 1,942 at the time of testimony. CTECS officials said that the district has about 1,609 full‑time staff on payroll compared with a prior authorized headcount of about 1,539, reflecting hires needed to support instruction and special‑education services.

Pritchard said some services are contracted; she identified a long‑standing contract with CREC to supply clinical and behavioral supports and noted the CREC relationship was likely to cost about $6 million in the current year. Committee members asked for a multi‑year breakdown of contracts and special‑education spending back to 2017.

Lawmakers and CTECS staff also discussed admissions and program quality. Pritchard described a lottery system used for student placement this year after earlier merit‑ and needs‑based approaches raised equity and placement concerns; she said the system received more than 6,000 applications for fewer than 3,000 open seats and that acceptance rates among lottery winners were high.

Committee members pressed CTECS about teacher recruitment in skilled trades, noting many prospective instructors remain in industry where pay can be higher. Senators and representatives asked whether temporary hires or industry partnerships could be used to deliver instruction while training and retention strategies are developed.

CTECS officials asked the committee to review the headcount and deficiency line items and to consider funding adjustments that reflect the system’s staffing and special‑education workload.","The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System told Appropriations it faces about $13 million in deficiencies — roughly $11 million in 'other' costs — driven chiefly by unbudgeted special‑education services, facilities and fixed cost increases; leaders also described rising special‑education enrollment and difficulty recruiting trade‑cert",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676803,"State librarian says Connecticut History Museum partnership declined for timing reasons despite ARPA funds for accessibility",365,957000,1322000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc&start=957&end=1322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc/thumbnail_957000.jpg","/articles/6676803/Connecticut/State-librarian-says-Connecticut-History-Museum-partnership-declined-for-timing-reasons-despite-ARPA-funds-for-accessibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676803-41ee66a2d3b1c61ad6264ca9e565fc51/orig.mp4?Expires=1777124502&Signature=f4rrg4GxjcO3aZWVXZXne6WgwPji5aq9NZqGSs3FLxJLwM07WG35r-qVBu7JfmfirQapNCp2580sVTiBAZC0IEHmtX6zdYCWyOiJ3K~WEHRKfUhjHDG4YIyDQUksnW9k83pM4e8CvZ28IZDUAKkq~ltj9omLt98XiVEIPqQciMqFUKEOCsv8pc7IsmByyzDG56vICyqDdPLzs6Q9MSi~Ij7zrnqO2cjiMUnhkQFg7KtVTVRmAqr~MGlFQfT9ic2f2gLcKChOVTyLa-cyVZNc4sSwyX6LRSJgRUrQI1SpdJ-jaJ32yhlfSxzkFZze1KMEY9~WoX88CiiJ~hXjRn2ZMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deborah Shonder, Connecticut’s state librarian, told the Appropriations subcommittee the State Library declined an outside offer to use ARPA funding to adapt museum exhibits for people who are blind or have low vision because the timing conflicted with a major modernization effort at the Museum of Connecticut History.

Shonder said the museum is “currently undergoing significant modernization and change after a significant over a changeover in our staff,” and that staff capacity constraints made it impractical to take on the external pilot immediately. She added that the state library is participating in a separate pilot with Perkins Access and the Connecticut Library for Accessible Books that aims to develop similar accessibility materials.

Lawmakers pressed the library to reconsider. Senator Cathy Austin said the state had previously allocated ARPA funds to support accessibility work through 2026 and urged the agency to reverse the decision and partner with the outside provider. Austin told the librarian that approximately 10,000 Connecticut residents are blind or have sight‑related conditions and said the state should prioritize accessible museum programming.

Shonder said the decision to decline the external offer was limited to timing: staff were focused on modernization and basic museum upkeep and could not meet the preparation and research workload the pilot required before the ARPA spending deadline. She said the library hopes to partner on future projects once the museum’s staffing and modernization schedule permit.

The librarian told the panel she would revisit the offer and that the library had engaged counsel and other partners; committee members asked the agency to provide follow‑up information about next steps and potential alternative timetables for ARPA‑funded accessibility work.","The Connecticut State Library told the Appropriations panel it turned down an external offer to use ARPA money to make museum exhibits accessible to people who are blind or have low vision because the museum is undergoing staff and modernization work and lacks capacity to implement the pilot now.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676808,"Governor’s universal preschool endowment prompts funding questions from Appropriations subcommittee",268,1382000,1650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc&start=1382&end=1650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363948-cf855bc23f3677c34fa38227563a44fc/thumbnail_1382000.jpg","/articles/6676808/Connecticut/Governors-universal-preschool-endowment-prompts-funding-questions-from-Appropriations-subcommittee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676808-57f81732fe9aee77c91461679917ab16/orig.mp4?Expires=1777124502&Signature=ebwMZf8-lBJhZjr4mS2wBfi5~O~Ln7TwKgSSZzCYWy6uq-vMf9lLgYpMHO3H7yud7pCkE5uNoMeZI818CdHf3THbuMSnxncFVP~rAi~2OjwVvwWWRfNs25jH3s99LRotXyUNT7M-PpExg6Zkf~HJbnOX7LPTm4a2Np~aRKniypKJ5a6L3bbLTy4r~VWrP2CJQn9qZvz41ETdaMrjqnpzmaTxODLl7e8kQP9dmvLUJyy8egjJ17wztvrBxXWVwiNNwNSTaM2v~Pn3HYfUz-bwqOuVIFym37zZsq-kc~gHPvyzl6ZaH4iD33yUlPpLOoYigHBBa12CNsmrzsQUJbv~ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Acting Commissioner Elena Tuberty told the Appropriations subcommittee that the governor’s proposed universal preschool endowment would begin with a $300 million transfer and that initial spending would follow an endowment model.

\"We will put away $300,000,000 in 1 year, and we'll be able to use 10% of that, which is about $30,000,000 in 1 year,\" Tuberty said in testimony, describing the administration’s financing framework.

Tuberty said the Office of Early Childhood expects the plan — combined with implementation work — to increase preschool capacity by 20,000 spaces for three‑ and four‑year‑olds and eligible five‑year‑olds and to lower or eliminate daily costs for many families. She told legislators the currently served population is about 19,000 children in public‑school preschool and that the endowment plan aims to boost access and affordability so that by 2032 an estimated 93% of families wanting preschool could be served.

Lawmakers pressed staff for details on how many additional slots the 2026–27 budget would buy versus how much would be used for rate increases that stabilize providers. Representative Walker, Representative Nuccio and Senator Austin repeatedly asked for a breakdown by program, age cohort and geography, and for evidence that rate increases would translate into more seats rather than only higher operating revenue for existing providers.

Tuberty and Nicole Cassette, director of Connecticut’s Birth‑to‑3 system, outlined other components of the governor’s proposal: a $6 million boost for tiered Birth‑to‑3 rates tied to a federally sponsored Medicaid rate study, a continued 4% increase for some Early Start providers, and a $3 million request to continue Smart Start classrooms. Cassette said the Birth‑to‑3 tiered approach expands two existing tiers into five to reward staff credentials and training with higher reimbursement levels.

Lawmakers also raised specific program questions the agency pledged to answer at working sessions: how many slots would be created by the endowment and other line items, how the endowment would be managed (treasurer oversight was mentioned in the bill language), how the plan treats private‑sector providers versus public‑school classrooms, and what contingency steps would apply in years without a general‑fund surplus.

Other items discussed included:
- Sparkler family app: OEC staff said about 33,000 families are registered; the app links families to developmental screening and Help Me Grow referrals.
- Smart Start: ARPA‑funded expansion has supported 16 preschool classrooms serving roughly 240 children; the governor’s proposal would raise the classroom payment from $75,000 to $97,500 to sustain operations.
- TriShare pilot and employer partnerships: lawmakers questioned a $1.6 million addition for TriShare expansion, asking for utilization data; OEC said one employee had enrolled at the time of testimony and that partners are actively recruiting.
- Universal nurse home visiting: a $1.8 million continuation of pilots in Bridgeport and Norwich was described as sustaining two community demonstrations.

Tuberty said OEC would bring detailed spreadsheets, utilization data and population projections to the committee’s working sessions so legislators could map funding to slots and program outcomes before decisions on enactment.","The Office of Early Childhood outlined an endowment proposal that would seed $300 million and aim to expand preschool by 20,000 slots by 2032; lawmakers asked for detailed slot counts, the split between rate increases and new spaces, and how ARPA and other funds fit with the plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Education department seeks $40 million for excess special‑education costs; committee questions program consolidations and ARPA continuity

Teachers’ retirement board cites $8.1 million health‑insurance shortfall as state proposes cutting reimbursement

Technical high schools report $13 million deficiency driven in part by rising special‑education costs and staffing pressures

State librarian says Connecticut History Museum partnership declined for timing reasons despite ARPA funds for accessibility

Governor’s universal preschool endowment prompts funding questions from Appropriations subcommittee